Umm.... Ok.

So, this week hasn't really been stellar. It wasn't super great. On Monday we had lots of snow, so I didn't have to go to work. So instead, some friends and I decided to go thrift store shopping. Now, this usually isn't my forte, but I decided to give it a whirl. We were having fun, looking at stuff, and actually finding some decent clothes to get. The problem was, the facility didn't have a changing room.

Ok, no problem. My four friends and I took over a little corner of the store and began trying on stuff over our clothes. At one point, I needed a different size. So, I asked my friends if they would mind watching my purse for me. They said no, so I went over across the store. Normally, I take my pruse with me. But, I decided that it would be ok.

I went over to the rack I needed. Suddenly, I looked up and realized that three of my four friends were standing right by me, also lookin at more clothes. I gave the friend I had asked an inquisitive look, and she told me that our one other friend was still over by the changing corner, watching my stuff. Not being too satisfied with this, I decided to head over there and get my purse. But, when I got there, my purse was gone.

Aparently, my one friend left there guarding the rest of the girl's stuff was not briefed on the fact that my purse was on the ground. But even if she had, it probably would not have made that much difference. Right when the main group of my friends left the corner, a group of different women moved in. My friend was busy trying to clear a path for them, and they took the oportunity to steal my purse.

I ran arround for a while, not knowing what to do. The sales people were of absolutely no help at all. Now, being at a thrift store in the "hood", I would think that they'd have a protocol for this. Alas, they just suggested that I call the police. (Yeah. Duh. Thanks.) I wanted them to lock down the doors and search everyone! Use the little room in the back with a two-way mirror. I know you've got one! No? Oh.. ok.

So, within a flash, I had cancelled my check card and my checks from both of my banks, called the WI DMV and the social security office to report on those stolen cards. I called the bill companies of the three bills that I had had in my purse, ready to be mailed out, and any other company I could think of including Blockbuster to report my stolen card. I cried the whole time.

Then, an officer came to take down a report, which I also cried my way through. Besides the financial stuff (and every piece of ID that proves I am who I say I am), they also got my Bible, a letter written to my now-widowed Grandma, and a letter to my sponser kid in El Salvador. Is it mad to hope that the theives go through that stuff and feel really, really bad about what they did? I kind of hope that...

Get this: I called my bank back to ensure that everything had been put on hold, so that they burglers couldn't touch my money. (They're a good bank. I think I'll hold onto them for my first divorce, so that they husband can't touch my vast wealth. Wait, none of that will happen...) They informed me that those crooks had just tried to use my card twice at a Super America! They gave me the store number, and we called a random Super America to be directed to the right one. We got the address, and took off to get there, thinking that perhaps the bandits had just dropped my purse in the trash when they couldn't use my card. No dice, though.

Though I was really sad about it, I'll live. Pretty much everything can be replaced. My work payed all my bills for me, and I'll reimburse them. I can get new ID (though that is proving to be difficult, as the only other forms of ID I had (both of my health insurance cards, my U-card, etc.) were also in my purse. The one other thing I had was a birth certificate. This wasn't in my purse, but I had coincidentally just sent it in to get a passport, both of which are valid forms of ID that I'm also currently without. Sigh.), a new purse, new pictures, new lip gloss, etc. Its just stuff, and it can be replaced. I just hope that the theives toss it all, instead of trying to scam me on my identity, or health insurance.

Interestingly, I found that it was my reaction that I blamed God for this. It must just be a knee-jerk reaction in times of trouble or something, because I know better than that. God didn't take my purse. Some low-life, scum-bag degenerates who should-have-learned not-to-take-things-that-aren't-their's-when-they-were-in-kindergarden took my purse. Free will, baby. It can be a real pain.

But, I'm ok - just inconvenienced. Besides, I'd rather have the choice to love God or not, to love others or not than be forced to. At least that way, its genuine. And, I forgive the thieves as well. As hard as it is to sometimes admit, they are worth more than my purse. They are worth more to God, and so they need to be worth more to me. Besides, I deserve as much wrath as they do - we all do. Sure, its easy to hate them. And while its harder to forgive, its better for everyone in the end. (Although this doesn't mean I wouldn't prosecute them if I had the chance - actions do have consequences. Forgiving doesn't mean rolling over.)